Ibec Podcasts

Budget 2027 reflects the country’s broader economic and social intent, displaying a strong commitment to meeting the challenges of our workforce transition head-on.

In this episode of Ibec Responds, Gerard Brady, Chief Economist, Hazel Ahern-Flynn, Senior Economist, and Mourad Mejdi, Economist give their reaction and analysis of Budget 2027. They discuss key measures including the unlocking of €360 million from the National Training Fund, the expansion of R&D tax credit criteria and outsourcing limits, and the capital gains tax rate cut from 33% to 31%.

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In this episode of Ibec Responds, Neil Willoughby speaks with Bobby McDonagh, former senior Irish diplomat including as Ireland’s Permanent Representative to the EU and prominent commentator on Anglo-Irish and European affairs.

Bobby joined the Irish diplomatic service in 1977, building a distinguished career as Permanent Representative to the EU, Ambassador to the UK and Italy, and Director General of Foreign Affairs’ EU division. Having also served in the European Parliament Secretariat and two Commissioner cabinets, he offers expert insights into Ireland’s EU Presidency and the future of Europe.

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In this episode of Ibec Responds, Alan Sherlock, External Affairs Manager is joined by Neil Willoughby, Head of EU and International Policy, to discuss Ireland’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU. They explore how Ireland can leverage this pivotal moment to drive economic growth and highlight key insights into Ibec’s strategic EU activity. 

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 In this episode of Ibec Responds, Alan Sherlock, External Affairs Manager at Ibec, speaks with incoming Ibec President, Maureen Walsh. As Managing Director of DeCare Dental Ireland, Maureen takes on this prestigious role representing the largest business representative group. 

This conversation takes place just before she addresses over 800 enterprise leaders, policymakers, and guests at the Ibec President’s Dinner. 

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In this episode, Harry Wall and Catriona McKeating, Associate Legal Directors in our Employment Law Services team, return to discuss equal pay case law, this time focusing on work of equal value and gender neutral reasons for differences in pay. 

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Ella Kearns, Executive, BiopharmaChem Ireland speaks with Paul McCabe, Group Chief Operating Officer of APC & VLE Therapeutics. They discuss BioPharmaChem Ireland’s new strategy, 'Together, for others,’ which aims to support and scale our indigenous biopharmachem ecosystem.

Ireland's FDI manufacturing model is already world-class. But global biotech hubs show us that true resilience requires a dual engine, pairing global manufacturing giants with a thriving homegrown sector. It’s not about competing with FDI, it’s about complementing it, making Ireland a far stickier destination for future investment.

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In this episode, Financial Services Ireland (FSI) Director Patricia Callan speaks with members of FSI’s Savings & Investment Account Taskforce, Eoin Fitzgerald, Taskforce chair and Country Head for Brown Brothers Harriman, and James Costello, Head of Portfolio Management Group at Davy. 

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In this episode of Ibec Responds, @Alan Sherlock, External Affairs Manager, sits down with @Gerard Brady, Head of National Policy and Chief Economist and @Hazel Ahern-Flynn, Senior Economist to discuss the key findings from our latest Economic Outlook report [link]. 

We are currently navigating a period of intense global volatility. From the dramatic "whiplash" trade effects driven by anticipated US tariffs to the staggering rise of AI-enabling goods, our economic landscape is shifting rapidly. Meanwhile, Irish businesses are feeling the pinch of a cooling domestic labour market and rising operational costs. 

Alan, Ger and Hazel also use this moment to reiterate our call for the deployment of the National Training Fund. Unlocking this fund is essential to support the workforce transition, prepare our people for the future of work, and firmly establish Ireland as a frontrunner in the emerging global economy. 

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In this episode of WorkTalks, Vicky O’Neill, Ibec’s HR Strategy Specialist, is joined by Robert Mac Giolla Phádraig, Founder and CEO of SkillStack. Together, they explore the current upskilling paradox and discuss how organisations can bridge the gap between acknowledging the importance of L&D and executing a robust learning strategy. Robert shares insights from his entrepreneurial journey, the power of storytelling in leadership development, and how HR leaders can effectively measure the true business value of modern learning interventions.

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In this episode of Ibec Reponds, Alan Sherlock, External Affairs Manager, and Sharon Higgins, Executive Director of Membership and Sectors, discuss the launch Ibec’s 2026 Founders Report, From Vision to Venture.

Together, they look closely at the complex hurdles today's business leaders face, from managing work-life balance and navigating regulatory compliance to closing critical tech knowledge gaps.

Alan and Sharon break down the strategic steps needed to support Irish enterprise, focusing on three core advocacy and operational pillars:

• Innovation and AI Acceleration
• Bridging the Capital and Scaling Gaps
• Unlocking Talent and Skills Infrastructure

Thank you for listening. To explore all of Ibec's podcast offering, visit here.  Make sure to follow Ibec Podcasts to stay up to date with new episodes.